The red carpet leads to REM’s NYC reception desk, where Wendy Strauss is a star. Wendy caught the acting bug when she was a teenager living in Tyler, Texas. A breakthrough role as Juliet at Tyler Junior College got the wheels turning, and before long, Wendy moved to New York to pursue acting seriously. At first, Wendy took roles in soap operas and commercials shot around the Big Apple. After meeting her husband, however, the couple changed gears and flew out to Los Angeles. Wendy picked up recurring roles on television staples such as "Days of Our Lives" and "Divorce Court." She even co-starred as Bunny in a direct-to-DVD film titled Bad Channels (Wendy claims that unfortunately, the movie’s quality is hinted at in its title).

After the birth of her son, Wendy moved back to New York, and with the help of her family, she opened the Homegrown Theatre in uptown Manhattan. The small venue sat 99 people and showcased student actors. Wendy acted, produced, and served as the company’s treasurer and secretary. During its life, the company produced the plays of Leonard Melfi, Clifford Odets, Sam Shepherd, Edward Allan Baker and many original pieces.

Unfortunately, Homegrown had to draw its final curtain when its landlord sold the building. Undeterred, Wendy continued to act in student films for Columbia University’s film department, and picked up a receptionist job for REM in our Broadway offices.

Recently, Wendy performed in an Off-Off Broadway play that may be in the works for a film. Though she doesn’t act quite as frequently, she spends her time writing (She had a story featured in Chicken Soup for the Soul!) and experimenting with photography. Her proudest recent role: founding an annual giving project called Mom’s Christmas Stocking, in which she helps fill over 200 Christmas stockings for women and children in need in New York City. Her website

So keep following the headlines. Wendy is still a member of the Screen Actors Guild and is a firm believer of keeping the dreams alive!